PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Midori Kaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Bawns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kaze
vs
Bawns

205 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Midori Kaze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ben Bawns!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bawns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kaze looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Bawns scores with a leg kick.
Bawns scoring well with a low kick there.
Kaze throws a sloppy head kick and Bawns moves out of range easily.
Kaze moves out of range of the strikes.
Ben Bawns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bawns scores with a shot to the body.
Kaze tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bawns sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kaze somewhat.
Bawns pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bawns is looking to slow Kaze down with leg kicks.
Kaze really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bawns throws a jab when Kaze was well out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bawns.
Bawns throws a body kick that misses.
Kaze seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Bawns.
Bawns fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kaze.
We've been informed that Bawns has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bawns lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Bawns lands a leg kick that knocks Kaze off balance momentarily.
Bawns connects with a solid leg kick.
Kaze avoids the head kick by Bawns.
Bawns swings for the body but Kaze moves out of range.
Bawns scores with a leg kick.
Bawns connects with a high kick.
Bawns throws a wild body kick that Kaze sees coming a mile off.
Kaze is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bawns lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kaze's sensitive parts.
Bawns ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kaze moves away.
Bawns looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bawns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaze was well out of range. Poor timing from Bawns.
Kaze moves out of range of the body kick from Bawns.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Bawns slams his shin into Kaze's torso.
Bawns explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bawns lands a high kick!
Bawns misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bawns throws a leg kick which misses Kaze's front leg but catches the back leg as Kaze tries to avoid it.
Bawns misses with a wild body shot.
Kaze takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bawns lands a leg kick that knocks Kaze off balance momentarily.
Bawns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bawns.
Kaze steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bawns. That one must have hurt.
Bawns scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bawns throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bawns misses with a body shot.
Bawns misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bawns throws a body punch but Kaze moves out of range.
Kaze is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bawns tries a head kick but it misses.
Bawns scores with a kick to the body.
Bawns fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kaze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bawns feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kaze's calf.
Bawns throws a half hearted mid kick.
Bawns waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kaze.
Kaze bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bawns throws a head kick that misses.
Kaze was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bawns pushes Kaze away with a front kick.
Kaze will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Bawns throws a head kick but Kaze moves out of range.
Kaze avoids the body shot from Bawns.
Bawns throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice body kick from Bawns.
Bawns throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bawns lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kaze is looking to clinch.
Kaze moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromBawns.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bawns connects with a leg kick. Kaze looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bawns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kaze manages to avoid it.
Kaze sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Kaze blocks a head kick by Bawns.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Bawns dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bawns connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bawns looks to land a body kick but Kaze moved away.
Bawns goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bawns scores with a head kick. Kaze tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Bawns keeps Kaze at a distance using the push kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Bawns.
Bawns fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kaze has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A solid body kick from Bawns.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bawns. That's going to slow Kaze down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaze has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Bawns.
Bawns has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A swing and a miss from Bawns.
Bawns connects with a leg kick. Kaze looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bawns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bawns throws a head kick that half lands.
Bawns feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kaze's calf.
Bawns scores with a head kick. Kaze tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Bawns scores with a nice body kick.
Kaze takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ben Bawns seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kaze on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Bawns scores with a leg kick.
Kaze tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bawns manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kaze takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bawns throws a sloppy head kick and Kaze moves out of range easily.
Bawns thows a body kick. Kaze tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bawns goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bawns pushes Kaze away with a front kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bawns.
Kaze shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bawns throws a half hearted mid kick.
Bawns lands with a kick to the temple. Kaze shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Bawns tries a head kick but it misses.
Bawns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaze.
Bawns throws a body shot but no joy.
Kaze feinted with a counter takedown.
Both fighters circling a little - Bawns finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kaze shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bawns shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bawns tries a head kick but it misses.
Bawns lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kaze will feel that in the morning.
Kaze avoids a kick to the body.
Kaze thinks about countering with a body kick.
Bawns looks to land a left hand but Kaze moved out of range nicely.
Bawns lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ben Bawns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bawns, right into the meat.
Bawns looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kaze attempts a counter takedown but Bawns avoids it well and moves away.
Bawns throws a push kick but Kaze slaps the foot to one side.
A head kick misses from Bawns.
Bawns throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kaze with a poor takedown
and Bawns counters with a low kick, right behind Kaze 's knee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaze throws a sloppy head kick and Bawns moves out of range easily.
Bawns throws a body punch but Kaze moves out of range.
Bawns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kaze was well out of range. Poor timing from Bawns.
Bawns cracks the inside of Kaze's front leg.
A head kick misses from Bawns.
Bawns lands with a nice body kick.

Kaze gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kaze blocks the elbow strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bawns pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kaze changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bawns fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Midori Kaze. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bawns misses with a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Bawns showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kaze takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bawns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kaze appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bawns takes a swing at Kaze's ribcage but misses.
Midori Kaze is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bawns lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Kaze tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bawns paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bawns.
Kaze takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Good leg kick by Bawns there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaze takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Bawns scores with a head kick. Kaze tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bawns tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kaze changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kaze uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bawns.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaze avoids a kick to the body.
Bawns throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bawns throws a head kick that misses.
Bawns lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bawns throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bawns throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bawns.
A head kick misses from Bawns.
Kaze tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bawns swivels and escapes.
Bawns feints a counter leg kick.
Kaze takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bawns throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bawns lands with a kick to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bawns misses with a body kick.
Kaze takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kaze moves out of range as Bawns throws a body kick.

Kaze closes the distance and pushes Bawns back into the cage.
Kaze wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bawns is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Bawns misses with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bawns tries to land a knee to the head but Kaze blocks with his arms.

Kaze has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bawns clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Bawns prevents Kaze from getting a body triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bawns fending off the submission attempt from Kaze.

Kaze tightening his grip on Bawns, looking for the choke.
Bawns staying busy and making it hard for Kaze to control.
We've been hearing good reports from Kaze's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bawns tries to roll but Kaze sticks to his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bawns trying to get back to his feet but Kaze is in full control for now.
Kaze gets his hands free as Bawns looks to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bawns is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Bawns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bawns winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Bawns!